Bradley Park could be next in line for upgrade

Aleese Kopf

Thursday

Sep 15, 2016 at 12:01 AMSep 15, 2016 at 3:07 AM

Now that the center of town looks more attractive with improvements complete or on the way for Memorial Park and the South End much improved with upgrades to the Par 3 Golf Course, officials think it’s time to focus on public spaces near the North End.

The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach asked for the Town Council’s blessing Tuesday to move forward with a multimillion project to beautify Bradley Park.

> Recap of Palm Beach Town Council meeting

"It’s been treated as the stepchild of all our commercial areas," foundation President Alex Ives said. "The time has come, with the completion of the Flagler Memorial Bridge near, to make it a focus of our town. We want this to be a beautiful entrance to our town and our community and make Bradley Park a place that isn’t just used from time to time but is an active spot."

The foundation hired landscape designer Jorge Sanchez to develop a plan to improve the public space from the foot of the bridge to the end of Royal Poinciana Way, including the park and the median strips on the town’s historic Main Street. Sanchez’s team developed a three-phase project to make the area more cohesive and up-to-date.

Ives said the project would be similar to the public/private partnerships the town participated in with the Par 3 Clubhouse renovation, Worth Avenue streetscape and Town Square restoration. The foundation would help raise money to finance the majority of the project, he said.

> Special Section: A guide to the makeover of Town Square

The council expressed support Tuesday but told the foundation to continue to develop the project and return with an update in a few months.

> More Palm Beach Town Council coverage

Project proposal

The first phase of the proposed project involves improvements to Bradley Park, including a tabby walkway winding along the outside of the park, a permanent lawn in the center with upgraded sod, a tea house garden area with a fountain, bronze sculptures, public bathrooms and a folly near the Intracoastal.

"There should be a lookout of some sort to view the beautiful view of the north and northwest," Sanchez said.

The Preservation Foundation would pay for the park improvements through donations, Ives said. He estimates the foundation would need to raise more than $2 million.

The proposed second phase involves reducing the size of the town’s pump station and moving it to the southwest corner of the park. Ives said the foundation would probably look for a substantial donation from a single donor to cover the estimated $6 million to $8 million cost.

The third phase focuses on Royal Poinciana Way. Sanchez proposed adding tabby sidewalks on both sides of the street and on both sides of the grass medians. There also would be tabby crosswalks across the street and tabby pathways through the medians.

Sanchez said they’d upgrade the median grass and add shade trees as well. No parking would be eliminated, he said.

The third phase could cost about $4 million, Ives said. He said it’s possible Florida Department of Transportation would contribute.

"We don’t have set numbers for all the phases because they still have to go through the public vetting process and [the] Landmarks [Preservation Commission] and other commissions," Ives said. "We are very aware that this is public property. This is just the beginning to get a conversation going to see how we might help make this area better. We would focus on Bradley Park and see if that generates the energy to do the rest."

Council reaction

Council members greeted the idea with enthusiasm.

"I love the concept," Mayor Gail Coniglio said. "I couldn’t be more delighted and more excited. That area has always been underused and frankly, not very pretty."

She thanked the foundation for consulting with town staff, the Garden Club of Palm Beach and religious groups on the island that use the park.

"We’re upgrading our bike trail with the bridge and bicycle traffic will be flowing a bit easier, and what I don’t want to see happen is bikes using these pedestrian paths, and I don’t want to see them on the sidewalks," she said. "But, I want them to have access to Main Street."

Lindsay also suggested the team consider a small public dock and water taxi spot.

Councilwoman Danielle Moore asked about the construction impact and time frame.

"Most of the work would be done on the interior, without much disruption on the street," Ives said.